Susan Zhuang

Susan Zhuang (Chinese: 莊文怡; pinyin: Zhuāng Wényí) is an American politician who is a member of the New York City Council for the 43rd district, which covers Sunset Park, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Gravesend, Borough Park, and other neighborhoods in southern Brooklyn.

Susan Zhuang
Member of the New York City Council from the 43rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 1, 2024
Preceded by	Justin Brannan (redistricting)
Personal details
Born	Baipu Village, Jiangsu, China
Political party	Democratic
Residence(s)	Bensonhurst, Brooklyn
Education	State University of New York at Oswego (BS) University of Southern Indiana (MBA)
Website	Official website Campaign website

Early life and education

Zhuang was born in Baipu, a small village in China, and came to the United States in 2007 as a student. She earned a bachelor's degree in finance from the State University of New York at Oswego and later a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern Indiana.^[1]

Career

Zhuang previously worked as chief of staff for New York State Assemblyman William Colton.^{[citation needed]}

New York City Council

Zhuang announced her campaign for the 43rd district, a newly created Asian-majority seat. While campaigning, Zhuang told a voter in Mandarin that her ideas aligned with the Republican Party and that she was running as a Democrat out of convenience.^[2] Zhuang's election marked the first time the area had been represented by Asian Americans in both chambers of the New York State Legislature as well as the New York City Council; though policy and political differences between New York State Senator Iwen Chu, Republican Assemblyman Lester Chang, and Zhuang persist.^[3] In office, Zhuang has been described as a conservative Democrat.^[4]

New York Daily News reported that in February 2024, Zhuang used her official government email account to solicit money, in a potential violation of state ethics laws, for a local united front group called Asian American Community Empowerment, which goes by the acronym BRACE.^[5][6] In March 2024, Zhuang and Colton led a large protest against a proposed homeless shelter location in Bensonhurst.^[7] On July 17, 2024, Zhuang was arrested and accused of biting New York City Police Department Deputy Chief Frank DiGiacomo during a protest against a homeless shelter.^[8] She was released without bond that same day.^[9] In an interview a week later, she claimed to have protected an elderly woman who fell amid the chaos.^[10] BRACE subsequently organized a protest march across the Brooklyn Bridge in support of Zhuang.^[11]

In December 2024, Zhuang voted against the City of Yes legislation that will allow the construction and conversion of 80,000 legal and new housing units across the city. It awaits Mayor Adams' signature.^[12] Some community boards in Brooklyn voted against this new zoning proposal that was modified from the original proposal of Mayor Adams.^[13]

Zhuang did not attend a February 2025 meeting between the council's Common Sense caucus and border czar Tom Homan, telling City & State that “I’m an immigrant – I cannot abandon my own community. It’s very different from the other council members, even in the Common Sense Caucus... The good people should stay. We cannot deport everyone. This is going crazy right now.”^[14]